Pornographic animated cartoons: the reality, the danger and the ruling thereon

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly: 

The dangers that families are faced with are more than the parents on their own can prevent. There are large scale and numerous conspiracies against all the members of the family, and if the head of the household does not pay attention to these dangers and protect the family members under his care, they will be lost and will go astray and be doomed. 

One of the gravest dangers faced by the children in the family is posed by electronic games and animated cartoons. Our website played a role in alerting families to these two dangers, then later on we were astounded to learn the extent of the danger posed to children by pornographic animated cartoons. We are shocked by what we have found out about the dangers and negative impact on children and we are shocked by the large-scale of the production of this material, And we are astounded to find a large number of websites in Muslim countries – unfortunately – that are marketing these evil films. 

Secondly: 

It is well-known that education in childhood is like engraving on stone; what is learned that this age becomes well established, for what the child learns at a young age becomes well entrenched in him. So how about if that teaching is accompanied by sounds and moving images? Undoubtedly this will be more effective in instilling it in his mind, then the child will try to put into application what has become entrenched in his mind, to make it a reality in his life. This is what led to crimes of murder, theft and aggression. Moreover, in the case of animated pornographic cartoons, children will try to put into application the worst and most abhorrent of what they see of nakedness, kissing, embracing and lying down together, and with whom? With their brothers or sisters! And they will either be too young to really understand what they are doing, or they will be at the threshold of puberty, and this poses a huge danger. 

The content of these pornographic animated cartoons is pure evil, that leads to nothing but destruction of families, erosion of morals in their children, development of a love of sex in their hearts, the wiping out of all modesty from them and the death of chastity in their hearts. All that is the result of their being influenced by what they see in these provocative cartoons. Even adults are not safe from their provocative effects, so how can children and those who are in early adolescence be safe? 

Thirdly: 

No wise person would doubt that watching these films is an evil act that impacts on the individual himself, and also impacts on his children if he allows them to watch them. Such a thing cannot be regarded as permissible in Islam; rather Islam would be the first to warn against it, prohibit it and put an end to it. The evidence for this prohibition on watching it includes the following: 

1.

Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.”

[an-Noor 24:30].

there is no difference between watching a non-mahram woman who appears as she was originally created, or looking at a still image, or a moving image, or a picture that was drawn by hand. How can the ruling be otherwise when what is being watched or looked at is nakedness and provocative sexual scenes? 

2.

Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allah)”

[al-Isra’ 17:36]. 

The sight or the eyes see that which Allah has prohibited, which contains those shameful scenes, and the hearing or the ears hear the music and shameful words, which are haraam, and this makes the owner of these faculties responsible for that on the Day of Resurrection, because of his carelessness regarding the blessings that Allah bestowed upon him and because of his listening to and looking at that which Allah had forbidden to him. 

3.

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “No woman should look at another woman then describe her to her husband so that it is as if he is looking at her.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4942) 

if simply describing, which leads to a man imagining a non-mahram woman, is not permissible, then it is more appropriate that it should be forbidden to look at images accompanied by sound, even if they are drawings, because that is more provocative than merely imagining, so it is more appropriate that it should be prohibited. 

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

Al-Qaasibi said: This is a basic principle for Maalik with regard to blocking the means that may lead (to evil). The wisdom behind this prohibition is that there is the fear that the husband may be impressed by the description mentioned, which may lead to him divorcing the woman who described the other one to him, or becoming infatuated with the one who was described to him. 

Fath al-Baari (9/338) 

4.

The general meaning of the hadiths which prohibit making images by hand. This is the reason why some of the scholars prohibited cartoons, both good and bad. Those scholars who did make an exception for such films only exempted those that are beneficial and good, and these pornographic animated cartoons are not of that nature, so they are not permissible according to any of the scholars. 

5.

These pornographic cartoons are diametrically opposed to Islamic upbringing in all aspects. The parents are enjoined to teach their children to pray when they are seven years old, and to separate them in their beds when they are ten years old. Parents are also enjoined to give their children good and sincere advice, to show them the way towards good and to warn them against that which is bad and evil. What connection is there between that and looking at pornographic films with what they contain of kissing, nakedness, and committing evil actions? How can a son grow up with chastity and a daughter know what modesty is, when they see that which would turn people’s hair grey and destroy good manners? 

Fourthly: 

What is stated in the question about looking at these animated cartoons not having any negative impact on one’s behaviour, or causing one to neglect obligatory duties or promoting haraam actions, is not in accordance with reality, because the impact of these films is very bad. If these images become imprinted in children’s minds, they can hardly be erased, and adults have often been affected by them, to the extent that some of them think that it is permissible to watch these films in order to provoke his desire for his wife, and they think that this is permissible and there is nothing wrong with it. This confirms the validity of what we have mentioned above about them having a far-reaching effect even on adults. 

With regard to the questioner saying that they do not cause him to neglect obligatory duties, this has no impact the ruling, even if we assume that it is correct. These things are prohibited because of what they contain of things that transgress the sacred limits and are contrary to the laws of the Lord of heaven, not because of what they may lead to of neglecting obligatory duties. That is a different sin, regardless of the reason for neglecting those duties. 

Therefore we do not hesitate to state that it is prohibited to make these pornographic films, it is prohibited to import them, it is prohibited to sell them or buy them, and it is prohibited to watch them. We think that parents who allow their children to watch them are sinning and are being negligent towards the children whom Allah has entrusted to their care. 

Everyone who is in a position of authority should strike with an iron fist everyone who tampers with the morals of the Muslims, and they should not allow such movies, otherwise they will be partners in sin. 

For more information, please see the answer to question no. 71170 

And Allah knows best.